FIG. 2S is a side cross-sectional view of the mount of the assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2T is a top cross-sectional view of the mount of the assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2U is a perspective view of the barrel of the assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2V is a perspective view of the barrel of the assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2W is a distal end view of the barrel of the assembly of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the following description, specific details are set forth, describing some examples consistent with the present disclosure. Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that some examples may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. The specific examples disclosed herein are meant to be illustrative but not limiting. One skilled in the art may realize other examples that, although not specifically described here, are within the scope and the spirit of this disclosure. In addition, to avoid unnecessary repetition, one or more features shown and described in association with one example may be incorporated into other examples unless specifically described otherwise or if the one or more features would make an example non-functional. In some instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the examples.

The present disclosure provides accessory mounts for a firearm, assemblies for a firearm including an accessory mount and a mating barrel, and related methods of manufacturing and using such accessory mounts and assemblies. In some examples, the accessory mounts may be designed for use with certain firearms, such as semi-automatic or fully-automatic pistols. Such firearms generally may include, among other components, a barrel, a slide movably disposed over the barrel, a guide rod extending through a portion of the slide and configured to guide movement of the slide between a closed position and an open position during cycling of the firearm, a guide-rod spring configured to bias the slide toward the closed position, and a dust cover covering portions of the slide, the guide rod, and the guide-rod spring and configured to inhibit dust or other debris from contacting such portions.

Modern firearms, such as semi-automatic or fully-automatic pistols, may have various types of accessories mounted thereto. Such firearm accessories may be mounted to a firearm by an accessory mount that is configured for removably securing to a portion of the firearm for use of the accessory. In some instances, a conventional accessory mount may be separate from the accessory and used to facilitate mounting of the accessory to the firearm. In other instances, a conventional accessory mount may include, may be integrally formed with, or otherwise may be provided as part of a firearm accessory. As an example accessory, a compensator may be mounted at the muzzle end of a firearm to reduce muzzle rise and/or recoil felt by a shooter of the firearm. In some instances, the compensator may be mounted directly to the barrel of the firearm, for example, by mating threads. In this manner, the compensator may include a mount portion for removably securing to the barrel, typically with the mount portion having internal threads for engaging mating external threads of the barrel. The threaded portion of the barrel generally may extend through and beyond the distal end of the slide of the firearm (when the slide is in its closed position), and the compensator may be threaded onto the exposed portion of the barrel, such that the compensator is secured distally with respect to the slide, the guide rod, and the dust cover. A set screw, or other means of additional mechanical fixation, typically may be used to inhibit rotation of the compensator relative to the barrel via the threaded connection therebetween. Additionally, Loctite or another adhesive may be applied to the set screw to inhibit the set screw from backing out. In other instances, a conventional accessory mount may be provided separate from the compensator and secured to the barrel by mating threads and a set screw or other means of additional mechanical fixation, and the compensator may be removably mounted to the accessory mount. Although these configurations for removably mounting a compensator or similar type of accessory to a firearm may be suitable in certain applications, it generally may be desirable to avoid the need for means of additional mechanical fixation between the accessory mount and the barrel, thereby reducing complexity of attaching and detaching the mount and/or reducing parts that may wear or require replacement over time.

According to examples described herein, an accessory mount may include a tubular body, one or more mount protrusions, and one or more mount channels. The tubular body may define a barrel-receiving bore configured to removably receive a distal portion of a barrel of the firearm therein. The one or more mount protrusions may be disposed on an internal surface of the tubular body and may extend circumferentially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body, with each of the one or more mount protrusions being configured to be removably received within a respective barrel channel of the barrel when the distal portion of the barrel is received within the barrel-receiving bore. The one or more mount channels may be defined at least in part by the one or more mount protrusions and may extend circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, with each of the one or more mount channels being configured to removably receive a respective barrel protrusion of the barrel when the distal portion of the barrel is received within the barrel-receiving bore. In this manner, the accessory mount may be securely and removably mounted to the distal portion of the barrel via the mount protrusion(s), the mount channel(s), the barrel protrusion(s), and the barrel channel(s), without the need for a threaded connection, a set screw, or other means of additional mechanical fixation. As a result, the accessory mount may avoid the need for means of additional mechanical fixation between the accessory mount and the barrel, thereby reducing complexity of attaching and detaching the mount and/or reducing parts that may wear or require replacement over time.

As described herein, in some examples, the accessory mount may include a main body coupled to the tubular body, with the main body including a top portion and a bottom portion. In some examples, the bottom portion may be configured to be received at least partially within the dust cover of the firearm when the distal portion of the barrel is received within the barrel-receiving bore, such that the dust cover inhibits rotation of the accessory mount relative to the barrel. In some examples, the bottom portion may include a recess configured to receive a distal portion of the guide rod of the firearm when the distal portion of the barrel is received within the barrel-receiving bore, such that the guide rod inhibits rotation of the accessory mount relative to the barrel. In some examples, the top portion may include one or more wings configured to extend over a distal portion of the slide of the firearm when the distal portion of the barrel is received within the barrel-receiving bore and the slide is in a closed position, such that the slide inhibits rotation of the accessory mount relative to the barrel. In this manner, desired rotational positioning of the accessory mount relative to the barrel may be maintained by such features of the accessory mount interacting with the dust cover, the guide rod, and/or the slide, thereby avoiding the need for means of additional mechanical fixation between the accessory mount and the barrel.

Still other benefits and advantages of the accessory mounts for a firearm, assemblies for a firearm, and related methods provided herein over conventional devices and techniques will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from the present disclosure.

Example Accessory Mounts and Assemblies

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A-1Z depict an assembly 100 for a firearm and components of the assembly 100 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. The assembly 100 may be provided as an elongate structure having a proximal end 101 and a distal end 102 disposed opposite one another along a longitudinal axis of the assembly 100, a top side 104, a bottom side 106, and a pair of lateral sides 108. As shown, the assembly 100 may include an accessory mount 110 (which also may be referred to as a “mount” or a “compensator”), a barrel 160, and a slide 190. The illustrated components and features thereof are merely examples, as various configurations of the accessory mount 110, the barrel 160, and the slide 190 may be used in different examples of the present disclosure. In some examples, the assembly 100 also may include a guide rod, a guide-rod spring, a dust cover, and/or other components for the firearm.

The accessory mount 110 may be provided as an elongate structure having a proximal end 111 and a distal end 112 disposed opposite one another along a longitudinal axis of the accessory mount 110, a top side 114, a bottom side 116, and a pair of lateral sides 118. As shown, the accessory mount 110 may include a main body 122 and a tubular body 128 coupled to one another. In some examples, the tubular body 128 may extend from the proximal end 111 to the main body 122, and the main body 122 may extend from the distal end 112 to the tubular body 128. The main body 122 may include a top portion 124 and a bottom portion 126 coupled to one another. As shown, the accessory mount 110 may define a mount passageway 132 extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis of the mount 110. The mount passageway 132 may be formed by a barrel-receiving bore 134, a proximal opening 136, and a distal opening 138. The barrel-receiving bore 134 may be configured to receive a distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 therein, as further described below. In some examples, as shown, the accessory mount 110 may include or may be formed as a compensator, with one or more transverse passageways 142 extending transverse to the mount passageway 132, the longitudinal axis of the mount 110, and the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128. The one or more transverse passageways 142 may be configured for receiving and redirecting propellant gas during operation of the firearm. According to the illustrated example, the accessory mount 110 may include a single transverse passageway 142 extending from the top side 114 toward the bottom side 116. In some examples, as shown, the tubular body 128 may be devoid of helical threads. In some examples, as shown, the accessory mount 110 may be devoid of helical threads.

In some examples, the top portion 124 of the main body 122 may include one or more wings 144 extending toward the proximal end 111 of the mount 110 and configured to extend over a distal portion of the slide 190 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134 and the slide 190 is in a closed position, such that the slide 190 inhibits rotation of the accessory mount 110 relative to the barrel 160. According to the illustrated example, the accessory mount 110 may include three (3) wings 144, with one wing 144 extending along the top side 114 and a pair of additional wings 144 extending along the respective lateral sides 118. In some examples, the bottom portion 126 of the main body 122 may be configured to be received at least partially within a dust cover of the firearm when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134, such that the dust cover inhibits rotation of the accessory mount 110 relative to the barrel 160. According to the illustrated example, the bottom portion 126 may be contoured along the bottom side 116 and the lateral sides 118 to correspond to a mating contoured shape of the dust cover. In some examples, the assembly 100 may include the dust cover. In some examples, the bottom portion 126 may include a recess 146 configured to receive a distal portion of a guide rod of the firearm when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134, such that the guide rod inhibits rotation of the accessory mount 110 relative to the barrel 160. According to the illustrated example, the recess 146 may be open along the proximal side of the main body 122 for receiving the distal portion of the guide rod and may extend from the bottom side 116 toward the top side 114. In some examples, the assembly 100 may include the guide rod.

As shown, the accessory mount 110 may include a stop surface 152 extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128 and configured to limit insertion of the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 within the barrel-receiving bore 134. In some examples, as shown, the stop surface 152 may abut a distal end 162 of the barrel 160 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. In some examples, an O-ring may be provided between the stop surface 152 and the distal end 162 of the barrel 160 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. The O-ring may facilitate better fitment between the accessory mount 110 and the barrel 160 and/or may provide an improved seal between the stop surface 152 and the distal end 162 of the barrel 160 to inhibit leakage of propellant gas at the interface and corresponding carbon blowback. In some examples, a Belleville washer may be provided between the stop surface 152 and the distal end 162 of the barrel 160 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. The Belleville washer may facilitate better fitment between the accessory mount 110 and the barrel 160.

As shown, the accessory mount 110 may include one or more mount protrusions 154 (which also may be referred to as “ribs” or “lands”) disposed on an internal surface of the tubular body 128 and extending circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128. As described further below, each of the one or more mount protrusions 154 may be configured to be received within a respective one of one or more barrel channels 186 of the barrel 160 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. According to the illustrated example, the accessory mount 110 may include a pair of first mount protrusions 154a disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128 and a pair of second protrusions 154b disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128 and longitudinally spaced apart from the pair of first mount protrusions 154a. As shown, the accessory mount 110 also may include one or more mount channels 156 (which also may be referred to as “recesses” or “grooves”) defined at least in part by the one or more mount protrusions 154 and extending circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128. As described further below, each of the one or more mount channels 156 may be configured to receive a respective one of one or more barrel protrusions 184 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. According to the illustrated example, the accessory mount 110 may include a pair of first mount channels 156a disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128 and defined between the stop surface 152 and the pair of first mount protrusions 154a, and a pair of second mount channels 156b disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 128 and defined between the pair of second mount protrusions 154b and the pair of first mount protrusions 154a.

The barrel 160 may be provided as an elongate structure having a proximal end 161 and a distal end 162 disposed opposite one another along a longitudinal axis of the barrel 160, a top side 164, a bottom side 166, and a pair of lateral sides 168. As shown, the barrel 160 may include a main body 172 and a tubular body 174 coupled to one another. In some examples, the tubular body 174 may extend from the distal end 162 to the main body 172, and the main body 172 may extend from the proximal end 161 to the tubular body 174. The barrel 160 may define a barrel bore 176 extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis of the barrel 160. As shown, the tubular body 174 may include a proximal portion 178, a distal portion 180, and a step surface 182 disposed between the proximal portion 178 and the distal portion 180. In some examples, as shown, the step surface 182 may be configured to abut the proximal end 111 of the accessory mount 110 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. In some examples, as shown, an outer diameter of the proximal portion 178 of the tubular body 174 of the barrel 160 may be equal to an outer diameter of the tubular body 128 of the accessory mount 110. In this manner, the resulting external interface between the tubular body 174 of the barrel 160 and the tubular body 128 of the accessory mount 110 may be smooth so as not to inhibit movement of the slide 190 thereover. In some examples, as shown, the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 may be devoid of helical threads. In some examples, as shown, the barrel 160 may be devoid of helical threads.

As shown, the barrel 160 may include one or more barrel protrusions 184 (which also may be referred to as “ribs” or “lands”) disposed on an external surface of the distal portion 180 of the tubular body 174 and extending circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 174. As shown, each of the one or more barrel protrusions 184 may be configured to be received within a respective one of the one or more mount channels 156 of the accessory mount 110 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. According to the illustrated example, the barrel 160 may include a pair of first barrel protrusions 184a disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 174, a pair of second barrel protrusions 184b disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 174 and longitudinally spaced apart from the pair of first barrel protrusions 184a, and a pair of third barrel protrusions 184c disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 174 and longitudinally spaced apart from the pair of second barrel protrusions 184b. As shown, the barrel 160 also may include one or more barrel channels 186 (which also may be referred to as “recesses” or “grooves”) defined at least in part by the one or more barrel protrusions 184 and extending circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 174. As shown, each of the one or more barrel channels 186 may be configured to receive a respective one of the one or more mount protrusions 154 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134. According to the illustrated example, the barrel 160 may include a pair of first barrel channels 186a disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 174, and a pair of second barrel channels 186b disposed opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 174.

In some examples, the one or more mount protrusions 154, the one or more mount channels 156, the one or more barrel protrusions 184, and the one or more barrel channels 186 may be configured to removably secure the accessory mount 110 to the barrel 160 via a partial-turn locking mechanism, such as a quarter-turn locking mechanism. In this manner, as shown, an extent of each of the one or more mount protrusions 154 may be equal to or less than a quarter of the circumference of the internal surface of the tubular body 128, an extent of each of the one or more mount channels 156 may be equal to or less than a quarter of the circumference of the internal surface of the tubular body 128, an extent of each of the one or more barrel protrusions 184 may be equal to or less than a quarter of the circumference of the external surface of the tubular body 174, and an extent of each of the one or more barrel channels 186 may be equal to or less than a quarter of the circumference of the external surface of the tubular body 174. In some examples, as shown, one or more, or all, of the one or more mount protrusions 154, the one or more mount channels 156, the one or more barrel protrusions 184, and the one or more barrel channels 186 may be disposed within the slide 190 when the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 134, and the slide 190 is in the closed position. In this manner, the connection interface between the accessory mount 110 and the barrel 160 may be covered and protected by the slide 190. In some examples, an anti-seize material or grease may be applied to one or more, or all, of the one or more mount protrusions 154, the one or more mount channels 156, the one or more barrel protrusions 184, and the one or more barrel channels 186 to inhibit the connection interface between the accessory mount 110 and the barrel 160 from seizing up.

For instance, with reference to FIGS. 1L and 1K, if the accessory mounts 110 are rotated 45 degrees clockwise, then the distal portion 180 of the barrel 160 may be received within the barrel-receiving bore 134, and then rotating the accessory mounts 45 degrees counterclockwise will lock the accessory mount 110 to the barrel 160, via the engagement of the mating protrusions and channels on the barrel and accessory mount.

The slide 190 may be provided as an elongate structure having a proximal end 191 and a distal end 192 disposed opposite one another along a longitudinal axis of the slide 190, a top side 193, a bottom side 194, and a pair of lateral sides 195. As shown, the slide 190 may define a slide bore 196 extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis of the slide 190 and a guide-rod opening 197 extending through a lower portion of the slide 190 positioned at the distal end 192 of the slide 190.

FIGS. 2A-2W depict another assembly 200 for a firearm and components of the assembly 200 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure. Various similarities and differences between the assembly 200 and the assembly 100 will be appreciated from the drawings and the corresponding description. The assembly 200 may be provided as an elongate structure having a proximal end 201 and a distal end 202 disposed opposite one another along a longitudinal axis of the assembly 200, a top side 204, a bottom side 206, and a pair of lateral sides 208. As shown, the assembly 200 may include an accessory mount 210 (which also may be referred to as a “mount” or a “compensator”) and a barrel 260. In some examples, the assembly 200 also may include a slide similar to the slide 190 of the assembly 100 described above. The illustrated components and features of the assembly 200 are merely examples, as various configurations of the accessory mount 210, the barrel 260, and additional components may be used in different examples of the present disclosure. In some examples, the assembly 200 also may include a guide rod, a guide-rod spring, a dust cover, and/or other components for the firearm.

The accessory mount 210 may be provided as an elongate structure having a proximal end 211 and a distal end 212 disposed opposite one another along a longitudinal axis of the accessory mount 210, a top side 214, a bottom side 216, and a pair of lateral sides 218. As shown, the accessory mount 210 may include a main body 222 and a tubular body 228 coupled to one another. In some examples, the tubular body 228 may extend from the proximal end 211 to the main body 222, and the main body 222 may extend from the distal end 212 to the tubular body 228. The main body 222 may include a top portion 224 and a bottom portion 226 coupled to one another. As shown, the accessory mount 210 may define a mount passageway 232 extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis of the mount 210. The mount passageway 232 may be formed by a barrel-receiving bore 234, a proximal opening 236, and a distal opening 238. The barrel-receiving bore 234 may be configured to receive a distal portion 280 of the barrel 260 therein, as further described below. In some examples, as shown, the accessory mount 210 may include or may be formed as a compensator, with one or more transverse passageways 242 extending transverse to the mount passageway 232, the longitudinal axis of the mount 210, and the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 228. The one or more transverse passageways 242 may be configured for receiving and redirecting propellant gas during operation of the firearm. According to the illustrated example, the accessory mount 110 may include a single transverse passageway 242 extending from the top side 214 toward the bottom side 216. In some examples, as shown, the tubular body 228 may be devoid of helical threads. In some examples, as shown, the accessory mount 210 may be devoid of helical threads.

In some examples, the top portion 224 of the main body 222 may include one or more wings 244 extending toward the proximal end 211 of the mount 210 and configured to extend over a distal portion of the slide when the distal portion 280 of the barrel 260 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 234, and the slide is in a closed position, such that the slide inhibits rotation of the accessory mount 210 relative to the barrel 260. According to the illustrated example, the accessory mount 210 may include three (3) wings 244, with one wing 244 extending along the top side 214 and a pair of additional wings 244 extending along the respective lateral sides 218. In some examples, the bottom portion 226 of the main body 222 may be configured to be received at least partially within a dust cover of the firearm when the distal portion 280 of the barrel 260 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 234, such that the dust cover inhibits rotation of the accessory mount 210 relative to the barrel 260. According to the illustrated example, the bottom portion 226 may be contoured along the bottom side 216 and the lateral sides 218 to correspond to a mating contoured shape of the dust cover. In some examples, the assembly 200 may include the dust cover. In some examples, the bottom portion 226 may include a recess 246 configured to receive a distal portion of a guide rod of the firearm when the distal portion 280 of the barrel 260 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 234, such that the guide rod inhibits rotation of the accessory mount 210 relative to the barrel 260. According to the illustrated example, the recess 246 may be open along the proximal side of the main body 222 for receiving the distal portion of the guide rod. In some examples, as shown, the recess 246 may include a first recess portion 246a and a second recess portion 246b for receiving respective features of the guide rod. In some examples, the assembly 200 may include the guide rod.

As shown, the accessory mount 210 may include a stop surface 252 extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 228 and configured to limit insertion of the distal portion 280 of the barrel 260 within the barrel-receiving bore 234. In some examples, as shown, the stop surface 252 may abut a distal end 262 of the barrel 260 when the distal portion 280 of the barrel 260 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 234. In some examples, an O-ring may be provided between the stop surface 252 and the distal end 262 of the barrel 260 when the distal portion 280 of the barrel 260 is received within the barrel-receiving bore 234. The O-ring may facilitate better fitment between the accessory mount 210 and the barrel 260 and/or may provide an improved seal between the stop surface 252 and the distal end 262 of the barrel 260 to inhibit leakage of propellant gas at the interface and corresponding carbon blowback. In some examples, a Belleville washer may be provided between the stop surface